“When he’s in there, parang he changes the game. More intensity, more defense, he provided us a different look in the game. He does things not just in one game, but he does it everytime that he’s in there.”

Even Monfort’s numbers — six points in eight minutes — do not tell the whole story, according to Caguioa.

“Mahirap yung ginagawa niya kasi sometimes he’s not playing in the first, second quarter, and then next thing you know bigla na lang siya papasok,” said Caguioa. “That’s a hard thing to do.”